Happy 4th July for any American readers or fans of the big U.S of A! Lots of more unsual news with info from award ceremony and artist-themed food …

Artist News

Line Up Changes – Tomoka Wakabayashi will be graduating from SKE48, drummer Korey will be leaving Signal, Shoken is leaving Romancrew and Paradeis will be disbanding. On the plus side Velbet have new guitarists.

Bassist of baroque, Bansaku, has been listed as an offical missing person, has he hasn’t been seen since 24/06/2012. I hope he’s found safe and sound soon.

Kiryuuin Shou, vocalist of Golden Bomber, will release solo material in the autumn. He’ll also have a solo live, Hitori Yogari 2, on 08/07/2012, and will be shared via YouTube on 14/07/2012 (broadcasted in London at 12:00).

Japanese convenience store FamilyMart has created a meat bun in the style of Hatsune Miku. Can you see the ressemblance?

Mika Nakashima will be releasing the theme song for the Japanese release of the next Resident Evil film.

Johnny’s Entertainment group NYC are now the campaign characters for SEGA’s indoor amusement park Joypolis.

ZAZEN BOYS will make their first release in 4 years with the album Stories.

ZUCK will release their first album Iden Algorithm, produced by Janne Da Arc’s kiyo, on 18/07/2012.

Live News

Alice Nine will be hosting 2 sets of lives this winter. Under the concert series Court of “9” #3, BLACK PERIOD will be exclusively for fan club members, whilst WHITE PERIOD will be open for non fan club members.

Even though they split in August 2010, all 5 members of Ayabie reunited for one live on 29/06/2012, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the live house Takadanobaba AREA in Tokyo.

GReeeeN held their first fan event at NHK Shibuya Hall, whilst maintaining their private identities using virtual live technology.

The MTV Japan Video Music Awards were held in Chiba on 23/06/2012. My favourite winners include Namie Amuro (Best Female Video for Love Story & Best Collaboration for make it happen), EXILE (Video of the Year for Rising Sun), KREVA (Best Hip Hop Video for Kijun), and hosts Perfume (Best Dance Video & Best Choreography for Laser Beam).

NEWS will host their first nationwide tour in 3 and half years, starting in 14/08/2012.